July 2, 2004
OLYMPIC TRIALS SCHEDULE| PARTICIPATING ATHLETES | PAST OLYMPIANS | OFFICIAL RESULTS | WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
A large group of athletes with Tennessee ties travels to Sacramento, Calif., July 9-18 for a chance at athletic immortality at the most hallowed event in global sport--the Olympic Games. Sacramento's Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex serves as the stage for the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials, where Team USA will be selected for Olympic duty in Athens, Greece in August.
In most events, the top three finishers at the U.S. Olympic trials who have also surpassed the Olympic `A' standard advance to the Games. That goal will be the primary focus for 13 Vols and former Vols who dream of trading the orange and white uniform for a red, white and blue once every four years.
Tennessee sends the most alums into the fray in the decathlon. Former Vols competing in the two-day, 10-event test include 2003 world champion Tom Pappas, 2003 NCAA champion Stephen Harris and 1995 NCAA runner-up Chad Smith.
Two of the sprint stars from the Tennessee national championship squads of 2001 and `02 return for an engagement on the world's biggest track and field stage. Justin Gatlin, the most decorated Tennessee NCAA champion ever, and Leonard Scott, the co-school record holder in the 100, hope to burn up the short track in the 100 and 200. Gatlin and Scott will also be trying to make their case for an assignment on the Team USA 4x100 relay squad.
Jebreh [pronounced Juh-BREE] Harris, two-time All-America and member of the Vols' 2001 NCAA outdoor championship team, and current Vol Marc Sylvester, a three-time All-America selection and the second-fastest Tennessee 800-meter man ever, represent the orange in the 800.
A pair of pole vaulters in Tim Mack and Lawrence Johnson, both NCAA champions as Vols in the 1990s, represent the Tennessee family in the Sacramento skies. Mack recently cleared a soaring 19-4 bar to vault into second place among Americans this year. Johnson enters the trials as the most decorated active Tennessee Olympian. Johnson earned the silver medal in the pole vault at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Anthony Famiglietti [pronounced Fam-uh-LET-tee] enters the meet as one of the best U.S. hopes in the steeplechase. Dawane Wallace, former world championships qualifier, takes on the 110 hurdles. Kevin Fitzpatrick contests the discus. Fitzpatrick dates back the farthest in the Vols' story, as the school record holder played a role on the 1991 NCAA outdoor championship team. Departing senior Leigh Smith, the SEC meet and school record holder, carries the Tennessee flag in the javelin.
However, "The Star-Spangled Banner" won't be the soundtrack for the dreams of all the former Vols. Gary Kikaya, 400 school record holder and two-time NCAA champion, will likely represent his native Congo in the Games. Karl Jennings, a 110 hurdles specialist and the fifth-fastest hurdler in Tennessee history, dreams of a victory lap waving the Canadian flag. Sean Lambert, a six-time All-America and departing senior, hopes to represent his homeland of Grenada in the 100.
All three members of the Tennessee coaching staff will be working during the trials. Head coach Bill Webb [decathlon and throws], assistant head coach George Watts [middle/distance events] and assistant coach Vince Anderson [sprints/hurdles] will be tutoring their athletes. Additionally, Tennessee team chiropractor Dr. Mike Petty was selected as a team physician by the organizing committee of the trials.
Tennessee's track and field participation in the Olympics stands as a source of pride. With the exception of the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, Tennessee's track and field program has been represented in every Summer Olympiad since 1972.
Doug Brown started the string and stands as the only Tennessean to make three Olympic teams. Sprinter Sam Graddy is the most decorated Vol Olympian. Graddy won a 4x100 relay gold and silver in the 100 in 1984 in Los Angeles. However, hurdler and 4x100 relay man Willie Gault ranks as the most versatile Vol Olympian. Though the U.S. boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games, Gault made the 4x100 relay team. After tackling a Super Bowl-crowned career with the Chicago Bears, Gault used his explosive sprinter/hurdler start to earn a spot on the No. 3 U.S. bobsled in the 1988 Winter Games. In so doing, Gault became the first and only Tennessee tri-sport star in track, football and bobsled.
All U.S. Olympic trials results will be available on www.usatf.org. Tennessee will release a postmeet summary of the Olympic trials and world junior championships after their conclusion.
TENNESSEE THREE REPRESENT TEAM USA AT WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
PARTICIPATING ATHLETES | SCHEDULE | OFFICIAL RESULTS
After stellar performances at the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Chris Helwick, Jangy [pronounced JAN-gee] Addy and Aries Merritt earned spots on the Team USA roster for the IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics July 13-18 in Grosseto, Italy.
The world's best 19-year-old and younger athletes gather for the world championships.
Helwick won the USA junior decathlon last week with a 7,358-point accumulation. Helwick ranks third in the world 19 and under rankings. Addy, in just his second career decathlon, took silver with 7,102 points. Addy ranks seventh in the world 19 and under rankings. Meanwhile, Merritt was edged out in a photo finish to take second in 13.84 in the 110 hurdles at the USA juniors. However, Merritt ranks as the fastest 19 and under 110 hurdler in the world with his NCAA time of 13.47 last month.
| U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials Schedule |
| Sacramento, Calif. |
| *All times Eastern |
| Friday, July 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Pole vault (qualifying) | Tim Mack, Lawrence Johnson |
| 10:20 p.m. | 800 (quarterfinal) | Marc Sylvester
Jebreh Harris |
| Saturday, July 10 | 6 p.m. | 100 (qualifying) | Justin Gatlin, Leonard Scott |
| 8:22 p.m. | *100 (quarterfinal) | Justin Gatlin, Leonard Scott |
| 9:10 p.m. | 800 (semifinal) | Marc Sylvester, Jebreh Harris |
| Sunday, July 11 | 4:15 p.m. | *Pole vault (final)
| Tim Mack, Lawrence Johnson |
| 5:30 p.m. | *100 (semifinal)
| Justin Gatlin, Leonard Scott |
| 7:48 p.m. | *100 (final) | Justin Gatlin, Leonard Scott |
| Monday, July 12 | 10:10 p.m. | *800 (final)
| Marc Sylvester, Jebreh Harris |
| 10:55 p.m. | Steeplechase (semifinal) | Anthony Famiglietti |
| Thursday, July 15 | 5 p.m. | Javelin (qualifying)
| Leigh Smith |
| 11:45 p.m. | *Steeplechase (final) | Anthony Famiglietti |
| Friday, July 16 | 5 p.m. | 100 (decathlon)
| Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| 5:50 p.m. | Long jump (decathlon)
| Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| 7 p.m. | Shot put (decathlon)
| Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| 8 p.m. | Discus (qualifying)
| Kevin Fitzpatrick |
| 8:15 p.m. | High jump (decathlon)
| Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| 9 p.m. | 200 (qualifying)
| Justin Gatlin, Leonard Scott |
| 11:35 p.m. | 400 (decathlon) | Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| Saturday, July 17 | 1 p.m. | 110 hurdles (decathlon)
| Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| 1:50 p.m. | Discus (decathlon)
| Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| 3 p.m. | *200 (quarterfinal)
| Justin Gatlin, Leonard Scott |
| 3:35 p.m. | 110 hurdles (qualifying)
| Dawane Wallace |
| 4 p.m. | *Javelin (final)
| Leigh Smith |
| 4:05 p.m. | Pole vault (decathlon)
| Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| 5:17 p.m. | *200 (semifinal)
| Justin Gatlin, Leonard Scott |
| 5:30 p.m. | *110 hurdles (quarterfinal)
| Dawane Wallace |
| 7 p.m. | Javelin (decathlon)
| Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| 8:15 p.m. | 1,500 (decathlon-last event) | Tom Pappas, Stephen Harris, Chad Smith |
| Sunday, July 18 | 6 p.m. |
*110 hurdles (semifinal)
| Dawane Wallace |
| 6:05 p.m. | *Discus (final)
| Kevin Fitzpatrick |
| 8:13 p.m. | *110 hurdles (final)
| Dawane Wallace |
| 8:38 p.m. | *200 (final) | Justin Gatlin, Leonard Scott |
| * If advances from previous round. | | |
| IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics Schedule |
| Grosseto, Italy |
| *All times Eastern |
| Wednesday, July 14 | 3:35 a.m. | 100 begins to open first day of decathlon | Chris Helwick, Jangy Addy |
| 2 p.m. | 400 begins to close first day of decathlon | Chris Helwick, Jangy Addy |
| Thursday, July 15 | 3:30 a.m. | 110 hurdles begin to open second day of decathlon | Chris Helwick, Jangy Addy |
| 2:05 p.m. | 1,500 begins to close decathlon | Chris Helwick, Jangy Addy |
| Friday, July 16 | 4:55 a.m. | 110 hurdles (preliminaries) | Aries Merritt |
| Saturday, July 17 | 11:55 a.m. | *110 hurdles (semifinal) | Aries Merritt |
| Sunday, July 18 | 11:35 a.m. | *110 hurdles (final) | Aries Merritt |
| * If advances from previous round. | |
| OLYMPIC HOPEFUL QUICK HITS |
| Current Vols (all classifications based on 2004 season) |
Sean Lambert - Senior - 4L - Brooklyn, N.Y. (Grenada)
Will not compete at U.S. trials, but hopes to earn a spot representing Grenada in Olympics ... Top-ranked Grenada native in 2004 with season-best time of 10.22 ... Six-time All-America selection elected team co-captain with Marc Sylvester for 2004 squad ... Counts the 100 as his best event in addition to his work on two school record relays in the 4x100 and 4x200 ... Coached by Tennessee assistant Vince Anderson ... Ranks fourth in the on the Tennessee all-time list in the 60 (6.65) and ninth in the 100 (10.17) ... Named to 2004 SEC Academic Honor Roll ... Finished fourth in the 2001 NCAA outdoors, beating two TCU sprinters to the line to help preserve Tennessee's eventual one-point win against the Horned Frogs. |
Leigh Smith - Senior - 4L - Raleigh, N.C.
Ranked as the third American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Nominated as Tennessee's Male Athlete of the Year in 2004 ... Won SEC javelin title with an SEC meet, school and facility record throw of 257-10, his lifetime best effort ... Topped former American record holder Tom Pukstys' SEC meet record of 255-4 set in 1990 ... Broke John Richardson's school record of 254-4, also set in 1990 ... Coached by Tennessee head coach Bill Webb ... Three-time SEC javelin champion and All-America selection (2001, `03, `04) ... Only the third person in Tennessee's program history to win three SEC javelin titles ... Finished the 2004 season with the second-best mark by any collegian ... Fourth-place finish at 2001 NCAA outdoors proved crucial to Tennessee securing the team title ... Named to 2004 SEC Academic Honor Roll. |
Marc Sylvester - Junior - 3L - Cleveland, Ohio
Ranked as the 11th American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Bounced back from a tough midseason to post a fourth-place, 1:47.23 finish at the 2004 NCAA outdoor championships, his best ever at the meet ... Season-best time of 1:47.01 proved good enough for third in the 800 at the 2004 SEC outdoors ... Coached by Tennessee assistant George Watts ... 2003 SEC outdoor 800 champion ... Lifetime-best 800 time of 1:46.21 from 2002 NCAA outdoor meet stands second on Tennessee's all-time list behind only the great Jose' Parrilla ... Three-time All-America selection ... Runner-up finish in the 800 at the 2002 NCAA indoor meet sparked the Vols to their first national indoor championship ... Elected team co-captain with Sean Lambert for 2004 squad. |
| Former Vols |
Anthony Famiglietti - 1999-2000
Ranked as the second American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Ran his season-best 2004 steeplechase time of 8:25.02 in a winning effort at the Penn Relays April 22 ... Competing for adidas and coached by Tennessee assistant George Watts ... Won the steeplechase at the 2002 USA outdoors in 8:19.07 ... Runner-up in the steeplechase at the 2001 USA outdoors ... Gold medalist at the 2001 World University Games in the steeplechase in 8:21.97 ... Took third at the 2003 Pan Am Games in the steeplechase ... Two-time All-America in the steeplechase for Tennessee .. Third-fastest Vol steeplechaser ever. |
Kevin Fitzpatrick - 1989-92
Ranked as the 16th American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Owns a season-best mark of 198-4 at a March 20 meet in Charlotte, N.C. ... Two-time All-America in the discus (1990, `91) ... Tennessee school record holder in the discus with a 202-4 mark from 1992 ... Only Vol still competing professionally who was member of Tennessee's 1991 NCAA outdoor championship team. |
Justin Gatlin - 2001-02
Ranked fourth among Americans in all conditions in the 100 ... Ranked second among Americans in the 200 ... Competing for Nike ... Ran his season-best 20.21 time in a winning effort at Tennessee's Sea Ray Relays in April ... Ran his wind-aided season-best 100 time of 9.91 May 31 at Payton Jordan U.S. Open at Stanford ... Won world title in the 60 at 2003 world indoor championships (6.46) ... Won the 60 in 6.45 at the 2003 USA indoor championships ... Won the 100 at Zurich in 2003 in a lifetime-best 9.97 ... Ended the 2003 season by winning the 100 in 10.05 at the Moscow Challenge and claiming one of the biggest cash prizes in track and field history--$500,000 ... His six consecutive NCAA sprint titles in 2001 and `02 make him the most decorated Tennessee national champion in the history of the program ... Ignited Tennessee team title runs at the 2001 NCAA outdoor meet and 2002 NCAA indoor meet. |
Jebreh Harris - 2000-01
Ranked as the ninth American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Ran his first 1:46.82 of the season, his season best, in a winning effort at the 2004 Home Depot Invitational in Los Angeles ... Ran season-best time of 1:46.82 in a third-place finish at North Carolina's Summer Games Under the Lights ... Valued part of Tennessee's SEC and NCAA outdoor championship squads in 2001 ... Earned All-America honors in the distance medley relay in 2000 and outdoor 4x400 relay in 2001 ... Holds the sixth spot on Tennessee's all-time list in the 800 ... Coached by Tennessee assistant George Watts. |
Stephen Harris - 2000-03
Making significant progress at 2004 Hypo Decathlon in Gotzis, Austria before no height in the pole vault slowed him ... Expected to contend for one of the three U.S. Olympic decathlon spots with a clean meet at the trials ... Won 2003 NCAA decathlon title with 8,061 points in Sacramento, Calif. ... Coached by Tennessee head coach Bill Webb ... Opened 2003 campaign with a win at the College Station Decathlon with a lifetime-best score of 8,103w points, the second-best regular season score ever by a Volunteer ... Finished seventh at 2002 USA outdoors with 7,712 points after his junior season ...Took 16th at 2003 USA outdoors after a no height in the pole vault ... Tennessee's 2003 SEC Male Athlete of the Year nominee ... One of Tennessee's most decorated community service participants. |
Karl Jennings - 2000-03
Will not compete at U.S. trials, but hopes to earn a spot representing Canada in Olympics ... Ranked as Canada's top 110 hurdler with his 13.47 ... Ran the 13.47 time June 5 at Quicksilver meet in Atlanta, Ga., where he finished second ... Served as a volunteer coach for the 2004 Tennessee squad ... Coached by Tennessee assistant Vince Anderson ... Two-time All-America honoree as a Vol ... Finished fifth in the 60 hurdles to assist the Vols to a team title at the 2002 NCAA indoors at Arkansas ... Finished fifth in the 110 hurdles to cap his collegiate career in Sacramento, Calif., as the 2003 NCAA outdoors ... Stands fifth on Tennessee's all-time list of 110 hurdlers. |
Lawrence Johnson - 1993-96
Ranked as the 12th American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Won the most recent Volunteer medal at the Olympics ... Earned silver at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia after leaping 19-4 1/4 in the pole vault ... Stands as the only Vol medalist in the field events ... Won the 2001 world indoor pole vault title with a 19-6 1/4 leap ... Eighth in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga., with an 18-8 1/4 clearance ... Won 2001 USA outdoors with a 19-2 1/4 jump ... Won 2001 USA indoors with a then American record jump of 19-6 1/2 ...Won 2000 USA indoors with 19-0 3/4 clearance ... Won 2000 U.S. Olympic trials after jumping 19-1 1/2 ... Won 1997 USA indoors with 19-2 1/4 mark ... Seized silver at the 1997 world indoor meet with a 19-2 1/4 leap ... Won 1997 USA outdoors with a 19-4 1/4 clearance ... NCAA and school record holder in the pole vault with a 19-7 1/4 skyscraper in 1996 ... Four-time NCAA champion in the pole vault ... Also won 1993 SEC decathlon with 7,576 points. |
Gary Kikaya - 2002-03
Will not compete at U.S. trials but hopes to earn a spot representing Congo in Olympics ... Ranked as Congo's top 400 man with a season best of 45.25 ... Finished third in the 2004 world indoor championships in the 400 with a 46.30 time in Budapest, Hungary ... Won the 400 in season-best time of 45.25 at the 2004 Norwich Union Super Grand Prix in Gateshead, England ... Coached by Tennessee assistant Vince Anderson ... Two-time NCAA 400 champion during Tennessee career ... Holds school record of 44.53 in the 400 and 1:20.20 in the 4x200 relay ... Finished third at 2002 NCAA indoors to help Tennessee to team title. |
Tim Mack - 1994-95
Ranked as the second American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Recently cleared 19-4 to round into form as the trials approach ... Placed sixth at 2004 USA indoors with an 18-4 1/4 jump ... Finished tied for sixth after leaping 18-8 1/2 at the 2003 world outdoor championships ... Finished third at the 2003 USA outdoors with an 18-8 1/2 clearance ... Also took third at 2003 USA indoors with an 18-10 1/4 effort ... Won 2002 USA indoors championship with an 18-9 1/4 jump ... Nabbed second at the 2002 USA outdoors with an 18-10 jump ... Won the 2002 Prefontaine meet after clearing 19-2 ... Struck gold at the 2001 Goodwill Games after leaping 19-0 1/4 ... Took second at the 2001 USA outdoors with an 18-10 1/2 mark ... Finished ninth at the 2001 world outdoors after clearing 18-10 1/4 ... Claimed 1995 NCAA indoor pole vault championship ... Tied for third on Tennessee's all-time list in the pole vault ... Coached by Tennessee volunteer assistant Jim Bemiller. |
Tom Pappas - 1997, `99
Top-ranked American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Opened 2004 season with a runner-up finish at the Hypo Decathlon in Gotzis, Austria, scoring 8,732 points ... Swept 2003 world titles in the outdoor decathlon and indoor heptathlon ... Won 2003 world decathlon with 8,750 points, the only American besides the legendary Dan O'Brien to win decathlon gold at the world championships ... Won 2003 world heptathlon with 6,361 points ... Won 2003 USA outdoor decathlon with a lifetime-best score of 8,784, the second-best score in U.S. history and a meet record ...Took 2002 USA outdoor title with 8,431 points ... Won 2002 USA indoor heptathlon title with 6,113 points ... Placed third at 2001 Goodwill Games in the decathlon ... Finished 2000 Olympics with fifth-place, 8,467-point effort ... Won 2000 U.S. Olympic trials decathlon with 8,467 points ... Set the NCAA and school record with an 8,463 worksheet in Tempe, Ariz., in 1999 ... Won the 1999 NCAA decathlon ... Coached by Tennessee head coach Bill Webb. |
Leonard Scott - 1999-2002
Ranked as 13th American in the 100 and 16th American in the 200 entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Rounding into top form in time for the trials ... Ran a season-best 10.14 to take fifth in a high-powered 100 field at the Prefontaine meet in mid-June ... Posted his best effort of the season in the 200 to close June at BYU's Pre-Trials Sprint and Power Track and Field Meet ... Posted second-place finishes in both the 100 (10.18) and 200 (20.46) at BYU ... Won 200 at Modesto Relays with a 20.76 clocking ... Accumulated 12 All-America certificates in a highlight-filled collegiate career at Tennessee ... 1999 NCAA 60 champion ... Holds school records in the 60 (6.48), 4x100 relay (38.66) and 4x200 relay (1:20.20) and co-school record holder in the 100 (10.05). |
Chad Smith - 1994-96
Ranked as seventh American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Summed season-best total of 8,021 June 6 in Chula Vista, Calif. ...
Finished fourth in the 2001 and `02 USA outdoor decathlon championships ... Won 2003 decathlon in Atlanta with a lifetime-best total of 8,133 points ...Took 15th at 2003 USA outdoor decathlon championships with 7,100 points ... Two-time SEC champion and 1995 NCAA decathlon runner-up with 7,992 points, the fifth-best total ever for a Tennessee decathlete. |
Dawane Wallace - 1996-99
Ranked as fourth American entering the U.S. Olympic trials ... Took second in a season-best 13.22 at the Modesto Relays ... Won the 110 hurdles in 13.38 at San Sebastian in 2003 ... Finished third at 2001 USA outdoors in the 110 hurdles with a 13.56 time ... Placed seventh at 2001 world outdoor championships in 13.76 ... Won 110 hurdles in 13.44w at 2001 adidas Oregon Track Classic ... Finished fourth at the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials with a 13.22 time ... Won bronze medal at 1999 World University Games ... Runner-up at 1999 NCAA outdoors ... Sixth-fastest 110 hurdler in Tennessee history. |
| WORLD JUNIOR PARTICIPANT QUICK HITS |
Jangy Addy - Freshman - Redshirt - Norcross, Ga.
Ranked seventh in the world age 19 and under entering the world junior championships ... Finished runner-up in the USA junior decathlon with 7,102 points in only his second career decathlon ... Competing unattached, placed sixth with 6,938 points. |
Chris Helwick - Freshman - 1L - Greeley, Colo.
Ranked third in the world age 19 and under entering the world junior championships ... Won the USA junior decathlon with 7,358 points ... Piled up 7,290 points to lead Tennessee and take silver at the SEC outdoor championships ... Landed third at the Sea Ray Relays decathlon, his first as a collegian, with 7,276 points ... Earned All-America acclaim as the eighth American and ninth overall with 5,386 points in the NCAA indoor heptathlon ... Set a Tennessee freshman record with a third-place, 5,525-point effort in the SEC indoor heptathlon. |
Aries Merritt - Freshman - 1L - Marietta, Ga.
Top-ranked 110 hurdler age 19 or younger in the world entering the world junior championships ... Took second at USA juniors in 110 hurdles in a photo-finish 13.84 ... Broke his own Tennessee freshman school record in the 110 hurdles with a 13.47 steamer to take fourth at the NCAA outdoor championships ... Earned All-America acclaim for his NCAA performance ... Double scorer at the SEC outdoor meet as he placed third in the 100 hurdles (13.65) and seventh in the 400 hurdles (53.06) ... Ran to a freshman school record time of 7.85 in the 60 hurdles prelims at the NCAA indoors ... Fourth at SEC indoor meet with a 7.89 time. |
